Stamp dispensing apparatus



E. E. LINDSTROM ET AL 3,010,629

STAMP DISPENSING APPARATUS Nov. 28, 1961 Filed June 29, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet l F/G. Ffa. Z

/6\` es S @se Nov. 28, 1961 E. E. LINDSTROM ET AL STAMP DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed June 29, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fyi/@E775 wps-rem nited States Patent Ohtiee 3,0lll,529 Patented Nov. 2S, 1961 3,010,629 STAMP DISPENSIN G APPARATUS Everett E. Lindstrom and Adrian A. Wersal, Minneapolis, Minn., assignors to Electric Vendors, Inc., Minneapolis, Minn., a corporation of Minnesota Filed `lune 29, 1960, Ser. No. 39,523 11 Claims. (Cl. 22S-11) This invention relates to `article-dispensing apparatus and more particularly relates to a stamp vending machine.

The handling and distributing of trading stamps by grocery store clerks and the like has increased the responsibilities and Work of such clerks to a considerable degree. The stamps must be accurate in number in relation to the dollar value of the purchase, and a good deal has been lost in counting out stamps contained in books, pads and the like. Although some types of trading stamp vending machine have been made available in the past, none of these apparatus has proven highly successful in dispensing stamps in a strip which is five stamps wide and as long as is necessary to count out the proper number of stamps. It will be understood that to store a roll of stamps which is five stamps wide and to manipulate the ribbon of stamps therefrom, produces problems not experienced with smaller rolls of stamps, primarily because the weight of the roll impedes the movement of the stamps being pulled ol and it has further been experienced that when the pulling of stamps is stopped, there is frequently some backlash due to reverse turning of the large roll of stamps.

lt is to the elimination of these and other problems to which the present invention is directed along with the inclusion therein of other novel and desirable features.

An object of our invention is to provide a new and improved apparatus of simple and inexpensive construction and operation for dispensing strip-type materials in desired lengths.

Another object of our invention is the provision of a novel apparatus for dispensing desired lengths of striptype material which may be 'easily torn and which apparatus is well adapted for drawing such material from large rolls.

Still another object of our invention is the provision of improved apparatus for dispensing stamps in Various desired numbers and in such a manner that precise manipulation and dispensing of the stamps is virtually unaffected by the size of the roll from which the stamps are drawn.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will more fully appear from the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters refer to the same or similar parts throughout the several views and in which:

FIG. l is a side elevation View of the stainp dispensing machine;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the stamp dispensing machine.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view taken approximately at 3 3 in FIG. l with the housing being broken away for clarity of detail;

FlG. 4 is a detail section view taken at 4 4 of FIG. 3 and having a portion of the bracket structure broken away;

FIG. 5 is a detail section view taken lat 5 5 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a detail section view taken at 6 6 in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a detail section view taken on a plane indicated at 7 7 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is a section view taken through the apparatus on a plane indicated at 8 8 in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a detail section View taken at 9 9 in FIG. 8;

FIG. l() is a schematic circuit diagram of the machine showing certain mechanical relationships for operation of the switches.

One form of the present invention is shown in the drawings and is described herein. The trading stamp dispensing machine is indicated in general by numeral and has a housing 16 with a front panel i611 oriented obliquely to the horizontal and being provided with a stamp-discharging slot 17. A dial 18 overlies the front panel 16a and also overlies a paper facing l19 which is suitably provided with legends or indicia under each of the holes 18a of the dial to guide the operator of the machine.

The machine is adapted to rotatably mount a roll of stamps 20 which is, in the form shown, five stamps wide so that for each operation, a row of five stamps is dispensed. A suitable bracket structure 21 is provided for removably mounting axle 22 on which is journalled the roll of stamps 20.

Opposite the roll of stamps is provided a rotary poweroperated stamp discharging mechanism 23 which includes a cylindrical stamp feed roll 24 with a plurality of minute tooth-type nibs or pins 25 on the periphery thereof and suitably spaced around the periphery of the feed roll cylinder surface. It is pointed out that four sets of pins 25 are spaced about the feed roll periphery and the roll 24 is of such diameter so that peripheral distance between adjacent sets of pins 25 is equal to the length of one stamp. In this arrangement, one row of stamps will be moved over the feed roll periphery each time the feed roll is revolved through a quarter of a turn. The feed roll 24 is keyed to a shaft 26 which is journalled in bearings mounted on the frame plates 27 of the machine. A stamp guide member 28 extends around approximately one-half the circumference of the feed roll 24 and holds the strip 20a of stamps against the feed roll periphery. The guide 28 is swingably mounted on the frame 27 so as to be swingable away from the feed roll periphery and is normally spring biased against the feed roll periphery. It will be seen in FIG. 4 that while the feed roll 24 is stopped, the tooth-like nibs 25a are disposed closely adjacent one end of the guide 28 and are just entering the perforations between adjacent stamps. Additional guide members 29 extend around peripheral portions of the feed roll to keep the feed roll free of the stamps after the stamps have passed between the guide 28 and the feed roll. The guides 29 are suitably mounted on a rod 3G which is affixed to the frame plates 27.

Feed roll driving and control means are connected with the stamp feed roll 24 and include a source of rotary power or motor 31 which drives, through a speed-reducing geaiing mechanism 31a, a drive shaft 32 oriented in parallel but spaced relation with the shaft 26.

A stamp feed roll velocity controlling apparatus or mechanism 33 transmits power from the shaft 32 to the shaft 26 so that when the feed roll is started from a predetermined rotational position, the velocity and acceleration of rotation of the feed roll are progressively increased when the drive means is started; and further, the velocity and deceleration of the feed roll are progressively decreased when the same approaches the end of a quarter revolution so that the periphery thereof has turned through an arc equal in length to the length of an integral number, one in the present instance, of stamps; and further, the feed roll 2'4 may be substantially locked to prevent rotation under the influence of manual manipulation on the feed roll or under the influence of tension applied from the strip of stamps after the feed roll has rotated through an angle such as to move the periphery thereof a distance equal to the length of an integral number of stamps.

The mechanism 33 comprises a pair of rotary disc-like rigid members 34 and 35 which are respectively affixed to the shafts 26 and 32 as by set screws. The rotary V43a thereof.

members 34 and 35, which turn on parallel and spaced axes are disposed in confronting relation with each other. The rotary member 34 has a face 36with four elongate guideway slots 37 formed in the face and arranged in radial positions and equally spaced from each other.' The outer end 37a of each of the slots is open.

The rotary member 35 has four insert elements or pins 38 adjacent the periphery thereof and equally spaced with respect to each other. The pins 33 project in an axially endwise direction from the member 35 and are interfittable in the respective slots 37 of the member 34 in sliding and rocking relation so that when the member 35 is rotated in the direction of arrow A by means of the shaft 32, the member 34 and the stamp feed roll 24 will be driven in the direction of arrow B. It will be seen that when the member 34 is rotated at a constant rate, the pins 38 will successively move into the ends of the corresponding slots 37, and at the instant that the pin 38 is initially entering the corresponding slot 37, the rotational velocity of the member 34 is at a minimum. Subsequently as the pin 38 contin es to revolve, it slides in the slot 37, inwardly toward the center of member 34 to rapidly increase the rotational velocity of the member 34. Subsequently, the pin 38, will in its continued rotary movement, slide in the slot 37 away from the center of member 34 and finally, the pin 38 will be removed from the slot 37, just at the same instant that one of the other pins 38 is moving into the outer end of its corresponding slot 37. It will be noted that the member 34 'has a pulsingtype rotational movement, and the rotational velocity of the member 34 will, when plotted on a graph, have a substantially sinusoidal pattern. As the pin 38 is moving inwardly along the slot 37, both the velocity and the rate of acceleration of member 34 is Vbeing increased, and likewise, when the pin 38 is moving rapidly outwardly along the slot 37, the velocity and the deceleration are both decreasing. It should further be noted that when the members 34 and 35 are stopped in the position shown in PIG. 5, wherein a pair of the slots 37 extend substantially in the direction of the tangent of the orbital paths of movement of the corresponding pins 38, the member 34, and therefore the stamp feed roll 24 are prevented (and substantially locked) from being rotated by manual manipulation of the feed roll 24 and are prevented from being turned due to the influence of tension on the strip 20a of stamps.

The operation of the stamp feed roll 24 is controlled by stopping and starting of the motor 31 which is controlled by the circuit shown in FIG. 10. The source of power is connected to the buses 39 and 40 which are connected to a conventional source of 110y volt, 60 cycle A.C power. One side of the motor is connected directly to the bus 4t) and the other side of the motor is connectible to the bus 39 through a cam-operated switch 41, or through contact `42a of relay 42 and the finger stopoperated single pole doublethro-w switch 43 and contact The relay coil 42b is connected directly to bus 4G and is connectible to the bus 39 through a camoperated switch 44 and switch 43, through the contact 43bthereof, and alternately, the relay coil 42b is connectible to the bus 39 through the switch V44 and the relay holding contact 42e.

1n order to operate the switches 44 and 43, the dial 18 is affixed to a shaft 45 by means of a coupling 46 and set screw 46a for revolving a rotary carriage element 47 which, by means of a bracket 48, mounts the cam-operated switch 44. The switch 44 has an operating button 45 which, when depressed by the cam following arm 49, is closed. The terminal end portion 49a of the arm 49 bears against the peripheral surface of the rotary cam 50 and is insertable into the diagonally inwardly extending notch 51 which opens through the cam periphery and is oriented along a chord of the circular periphery so that the innermost portion of the notch 51 undercuts a lip portion 52 of the cam. When the terminal end portion 49a is disposed in the innermost portion of the slot 51, the built-in spring bias on the switch operating button 45 permits the button to move outwardly so as to open the switch 44. The cam 50 is rotatably mounted on the shaft 45.

A worm gear 53 is also rotatably mounted on the shaft 45 and is held downwardly against the hub of the cam 50 by means of a collar 54. The worm gear 53 has a keying web 53a which fits into the slot 50a in the end of the cam hub so that turning of the cam 50 is controlled by turning of the gear 53. The gear 53 is meshed with a worm'55 which is affixed on the shaft 32. It will be seen that as the shaft 32 revolves in the direction of the arrow A, the worm gear and cam 50 are revolved in the direction of arrow C so that the ycam following arm 49, when stationary, will slip underneath the lip portion 52 of the cam as the cam is revolved.

The rotary carriage element 47 has a disc-likeV portion 56, the periphery of which is provided with a plurality of regularly spaced teeth 57. The number of teeth 57 is equal to the number of apertures 18a in the dial 18. A leaf spring 58 having a detent 58a is anchored by means of a screw 59 to the frame of the machine, and the detent portion 58a engages the toothed periphery of the disc portion 56 so as to restrain the carrier element 47 and switch 44 and dial 18 against rotary movement, but to permit rotary movement thereof when manually urged.

The element 47 is constructed of insulating material and carries a pair of conductive rings 60 and 61 which are affixed thereto as by screws 62, and the rings 60 and 61 are electrically connected to the conductor wires 44a of the switch 44. A pair of leaf springs 63 respectively engage the peripheries of the rings 60 and 61 and are connectible into the circuit shown in FIG. 10.

The finger stop-operated control switch 43 is mounted by means of a bracket 64 on the frame of the machine and the switch is positioned so that the operating button 43a thereof is disposed in horizontal alignment with the swingable finger stop bar 65 which is rotatably mounted on the shaft 45 and retained in position by an E-ring 66. The outer terminal portion 65a of the finger stop bar 65 is disposed above and in confronting relation with the dial 18 so as to be engaged by the finger when the dial has been turned through an angle. The finger stop bar 65 is movable to a limited extent, and is limited in its movement' by the ends 67a and 67b of a Vslot 67 in the frame, through which the bar 65 extends. The bar 65 is normally biased against the end 67h of the slot by means of a spring 6S`which is attached at one end to the bar 65 and is attached at the other end by a tab 69 to the frame. As viewed in FIG. 2, the dial 18 will normally be turned in a clockwise direction and the finger stop bar is movable in a clockwise direction from its normal position a distance substantially equal to the center-to-center spacing of a pair of adjacent dial apertures, and when the finger stop bar 65 has been moved to the limit of its movement in a clockwise direction the bar engages the switch operating button 43a and operates the switch 43.

The cam operated switch 41 is disposed adjacent the periphery of cam 70 which is keyed to the shaft 26 and which is also provided with four notches 71 in the periphery thereof. The switch-operating button 41a is nornially spring biased outwardly against the cam periphery, and when the button 41a is disposed in one of the notches as shown in FIG.V 4 the switch 41 is open, and when the button 41a engages the circular circumference of the `cam '70, the switch 41 is closed.

In operation, a supply of stamps is provided in the form of a roll 20 and the strip 20a of stamps is threaded between the stamp guide 24 and the periphery of the feed roll 24, and is adjusted so that the teeth 25a on the feed roll periphery are meshed with the perforations between adjacent stamps.

When it is desired to obtain a number .of stamps from the machine, the operator will place his finger in one of the apertures of the dial in order to rotate the dial. If one row of five stamps is desired, he will select the rst dial hole immediately above the finger stop, and likewise if he desires additional rows of stamps he will place his finger in another appropriate dial aperture. In one operation, with the arrangement shown in the drawings, the operator may cause the machine to discharge as many as twenty rows of stamps and this is accomplished by inserting his finger in the first dial aperture immedi ately below, or clockwise from the finger stop.

In any case, the machine operator will move his ringer and rotate the dial until his finger engages the nger stop 65 and will then continue to rotate the dial and to move the finger stop bar 65 until the bar 65 is stopped and the switch 43 is operated. His finger will then be extracted from the dial aperture, whereupon the stop bar 65 will return to its normal position under inliuence of the spring 68, and the dial 18 will remain stationary under influence of the detented spring 58 acting against the teeth 57. At this time, the machine Vwill have been set into operation.

More particularly, the initial rotation of dial 18 revolves shaft 45, carriage element 47, switch bracket 48, switch 44, and cam following arm 49 which moves out onto the periphery of cam 50 and causes the switch 44 to be closed. Subsequently as the operators finger strikes the stop bar 65, the stop bar swings to operate switch 43 and connect the terminal 43b and the relay coil 42h to the bus 39. Operation of the relay closes the holding contact 42a` which shunts switch 43 and allows the switch 43 to be instantaneously released. Closing of relay contact 42a connects the motor 31 to contact 43a of switch 43 and causes the motor to be connected tothe bus 39 as soon as the finger stop bar 65 is released, whereupon the motor 31 is started.

When the motor starts, the shaft 32 is revolved at a predetermined speed and the member 35 and pins 38 are also revolved. It will be noted that the initial movement of pins 38 is in a direction substantially radial of the member 34 and the actual velocity of the member 34 will be considerably less then the velocity of member 35. As the member 35 and pins 38 continue to revolve, the rotational velocity of member 34 and the rate of acceleration thereof is materially increased for approximately an eighth of a revolution of the member 34 and of the stamp feed roll 24. Of course, as the feed roll is revolved, a row of stamps is ejected adjacent the left side of the feed roll, as viewed in FIG. 4. As the rotary member 34 and feed roll 24 approach the end of a yquarter revolution of angular movement, the velocity thereof again materially decreases and the deceleration also decreases as the pin 38 moves outwardly and approaches the outer open end of the corresponding slot 37. If the dial 18 has been operated to dicharge only one row of stamps, the feed roll will be stopped at the instant when one of the pins 38 is at the outer end of its corresponding slot 37 and is moving outwardly and another of the pins 38 is at the outer end of its corresponding slot 37 and is moving inwardly. lf the dial has been operated to obtain more than one row of stamps, the rotation of the shaft 32 continues and another of the pins 38 will move into its corresponding slot 37 and continue to drive the rotary member 34 and feed roll 24 as previously described. It should be understood that the initial low velocity and low acceleration at -the time the feed roll 24 is started will eliminate any jerking or snapping of the strip 20a of stamps and the tension is applied to the strip 20a rather gradually and the rather heavy roll 20 of stamps is also set into motion rather gradually. It should be pointed out that the rotational velocity of the feed roll is progressively increased throughout the first half of each quarter revolution. During the second half of each quarter revolution the rotational velocity of the feed roll is progressively decreased and the rather heavy roll 20 of stamps is allowed to correspondingly decrease in rotational velocity because the strip 20a is no longer being drawn therefrom at a maximum rate. The result of the progressive decrease in velocity of the feed roll 24 is to prevent any backlash or reverse rotation of the roll 20 which would have the tendency to snap the strip 20a and either cause breaking of the strip or tearing of the stamps at the teeth 25.

It will 4also be noted that the stopping of the feed roll 24 and member 34 at the position shown in FIG. 5 also has the effect of locking the feed roll so as to prevent the feed roll from being turned due to manual manipulation on the feed roll or due to tension on the strip 20a of stamps. If one of such forces is applied tothe stamp feed roll 24, the sides of the grooves 37 bear against the pins 38 in such a direction as to apply force on the pins 38 only in a radial direction with respect to the axis of shaft 32, and as a result, rotation of the feed roll 24 is prevented.

The stopping of the feed roll 24 is induced by operation of cam 50, the cam following arm 49 and switch 44, and the stopping is finally accomplished and the stopped position of the feed roll 24 and rotary member 34 is indexed by the cam 70 and stopping switch 41.

It will be remembered that when the dial was initially rotated, the cam following arm 49 was moved out onto the circular periphery of cam 50, and around the periphery from the notch 51. During this initial movement the cam 50 remains stationary. Subsequently, when the switch 43 is operated and released, the motor is set into operation to turn shaft 32 and worm gear 53. It will be understood that so long as the arm 49 remains out on the periphery of cam 50 and switch 44 remains in operated condition, `the motor is connected to the bus 39 through the contacts 42a and switch 43, and if a number of rows of stamps are being discharged, the switch 41, by operation of cam 7 8 is opened and reclosed during each quarter revolution of the stamp feed roll 24. As the worm gear is revolved, the cam 50 is revolved and notch 51 moves toward the cam following arm *49 and when the terminal end portion 49a moves into the bottom portion of the notch 51 under the lip 52, the switch 44 is reopened so as to release the relay 42 causing opening of the holding contact 42e` and the contact 42a. This has the effect of leaving switch 41 as the only connection between the motor and the bus 39. The reopening of switch 44 and the release of relay 42 immediately precedes the dropping of the button 41a into one of the notches of cam 70, and when the button 41a does drop into one of the notches, switch 41 is opened to completely disconnect the motor 31 from the bus 39. The motor will thereupon stop immediately with practically no overrun whatever.

It should tbe noted that due to the arrangement of the undercut notch 51 and the lip portion 52 on the cam 50, the dial 18 and switch 44 may be turned through a complete 360" arc in order to cause the discharge of a maximum number of rows of stamps. When lthe dial has been turned through a complete revolution, the cam following arm 49 will engage the cam periphery at the lip portion 52.

Under certain operating conditions it is desirable to discharge two or more rows of stamps from the feed roll 24 for each dial position. This may be accomplished by varying the gearing ratio between the worm 55 and worm gear 53. For instance, if it is desired to discharge two rows of stamps for each dial position, the gearing ratio between worm 55 and worm gear 53 is changed so that twice as many turns of shaft 32 are necessary for revolving shaft 45 and cam Si? through Ian arc equal to the arcuate spacing between teeth 57. Under these conditions, if the dial 18 is manipulated for the discharge of a minimum number of stamps, the feed roll 24 will revolve through two quarter turns for discharging two rows of stamps before the motor is stopped.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and pro- 7 portions of the parts without departing from the scope of our invention.

What we claim is:

l. A stamp dispensing apparatus comprising a supporting structure, means on the structure for rotatably mounting a roll of starnps, a feed mechanism drawing stamps off the roll and ejecting the stamps and including a stamp feed roll journalled on the structure adjacent the roll of stamps for engaging and driving the stamps, guide means holding the stamps in driving relation withV the feed roll, driving means connected with the feed roll for rotating the same and moving stamps over the periphery thereof, said driving means includingvelocity control mechanism progressively increasing the velocity of the feed roll when the same is started by actuation of the drive means, and means for stopping said driving means, whereby to facilitate a positive driving of the stamps over the feed roll and pulling of the stamps from the roll of stamps without causing the stamps to break.

2. A stamp dispensing apparatus comprising a supporting structure, means on the structure for rotatably mounting a roll of stamps, a stamp feed roll opposite said means and journalled on the structure for driving stamps and for pulling stamps off the stamp roll, guide means holding the stamps in driving relation with the feed roll, driving means connected with the feed roll for rotating the same forwardly to move stamps over the feed roll periphery, control means for stopping said driving means at a predetermined position when the feed roll has revolved through a predetermined angle and the feed roll periphery has moved through an arc substantially equal in length'to the length of an integral number of stamps, said driving means including a forward roll-controlling mechanism, progressively increasinfJ the velocity of the feed roll when theV same is started by actuation of the drive means and said mechanism also preventing the feed roll from turning under the inliuence of manual manipulation of the feed roll and of stamps taken when the driving means has been stopped at said position.

3. A stamp dispensing apparatus comprising a supporting structure, means on the structure for rotatably mounting a roll of stamps, a stamp feed roll opposite said means and journalled on the structure for pulling the 'stamps off the stamp roll, guide means holding the stamps in driving relation with the feed roll, driving means connected with the feed roll for rotating the same forwardly to move stamps over the feed roll periphery, control means for stopping said driving means at a predetermined position when the feed roll has revolved through a predetermined angle and the feed roll periphery has moved through an arc substantially equal in length to the length of an integral number of stamps, said driving means including feed roll-controlling mechanism progressively decreasing the velocity of the feed roll when the feed roll approaches the end of said predetermined angle whereby to minimize spurious rotation of the roll of stamps.

4. A stamp dispensing apparatus comprising a supporting structure, means on the structure for rotatably mounting a roll of stamps, a feed mechanism drawing stamps off the roll and ejecting the stamps and including a stamp feed roll journalled on the structure adjacent the roll of stamps for engaging and driving the stamps, guide means holding the stamps in driving relation with the feed roll, driving means connected with the feed roll for rotating the same and moving the stamps over theV periphery thereof, said driving means including velocity control mechanism varying the rotational velocity of the feed roll from a minimum to a maximum and back to said minimum when the feed roll is started and turned through a predetermined angle and the feed roll periphery is moved through an arc substantially equal in length to the length of an integralnumber of stamps, said velocity control mechanism progressively increasing the speed of the feed roll as the feed roll is turned through approximately half of said predetermined angle, means for stopping said driving means when the feed roll has turned through said predetermined angle, whereby to facilitate drawing the stamps oif the roll of stamps in a strip without breaking the strip.

5. A stamp dispensing apparatus comprising a supporting structure, means on the structure for rotatably mounting a roll of stamps, a stamp feed roll opposite said means and journalled on the structure for driving stamps and for pulling the stamps olf the stamp roll, guiding means holding the stamps in driving relation with the feed roll, driving means for rotating the feed roll, said driving means including a source of rotary power and also including first and second rotary members having spaced and parallel rotation axes, means connecting said second member to the stamp feed roll, means connecting said first member to the rotary power source one of said rotary members having means delining a plurality of arcuately spaced radially oriented guideway slots, each with an open outer end and each with an open side facing endwise of the axis, and the other of said rotary members having a plurality of arcuately spaced and endwise projecting insert elements on the periphery thereof and successively interfittable with corresponding guideway slots for sliding and rocking motion therein as said first member isrotated, one of said insert elements being intertitted with a corresponding guideway, and means for stopping said driving means, when one of said insert elements is disposed at the open outer end of the corresponding guideway slot, whereby to progressively increase the velocity of the stamp Vfeed roll after said driving means are actuated. y

6. A stamp dispensing apparatus comprising a supporting structure, means 'on the structure rotatably mounting a roll of stamps, a stamp feed roll Vopposite said means and journalled on the structure for driving stamps and for pulling stamps off the stamp roll, guide means for holding the stamps in driving relation with the feed roll, driving means for turning the feed roll, said driving means including a source of rotary power and also including iirst and second rotary members having spaced and parallel rotation axes, means connecting said second rotary member tothe stamp feed roll, `means connecting said first rotary member to the rotary power source, one of said rotary members having means vdefining four radially oriented equally spaced guideway slots each with an open outer end and each with an open side facing endwise of the axis, and the other of said rotary members having four axially endwise eX- tending insert elements spaced equally from each other on the periphery thereof and rotating in circular orbital paths to be successively interlittable with corresponding guideway slots for ysliding and rocking motion therein as said `rst member is rotated, one of said insert elements being interiitted with a corresponding guideway slot and means for stopping said driving means when a pair of said guideway slots extend along tangents of the orbital paths of the corresponding insert elements whereby to progressively vary the velocity of the stamp feed roll and to prevent rotation of the feed roll induced by manual manipulation thereof and tension on the stamps.

7. The invention set .forth inclaim 6 wherein said second rotary member Vhas an end face confronting said first rotary member and said slots being disposed in said face, said insert elements comprising pins extending axially endwise from said first rotary member toward said second rotary member.

8. A stamp dispensing apparatus comprising a supporting structure, means on the structure for rotatably `mounting a yroll of stamps, a yfeed mechanism drawing stamps .olf the Vroll and ejecting the stamps and including a stamp feed roll journalled on the structure adjacent the roll of stamps for engaging and driving the stamps, Aguide means holding the stamps in driving relation with the feed roll, a velocity control mechanism connected to the feed roll for progressively increasing the velocity of the feed roll and progressively decreasing the velocity of the feed rol-l over a predetermined arc of rotation, driving means connected to the velocity control mechanism for rotating the same so that the -feed Iroll moves stamps over the periphery thereof, and means for starting and stopping said driving means whereby driving the stamps over the feed roll and pulling of the stamps `from the roll of stamps is accomplished Without causing the stamps to tear.

9. A stamp dispensing apparatus comprising a supporting structure, means on the structure for rotatably mounting a roll of stamps, a rotatable and mechanically operated velocity control mechanism having input and output members, one member rotating at a velocity different from the other in accordance with predetermined design considerations, a feed mechanism rotatably connected to the output means of said velocity control mechanism for drawing stamps from the roll and including a stamp feed roll journalled on the strucmre adjacent the roll of stamps for engaging the stamps as they move thereacross, guide means holding the stamps in moving relation with the feed roll, motor means rotatably connected to the input means of said velocity control mechanism for rotating the same, and means including switch means for selectively operating said motor means Iin laccordance with the number of stamps to be removed lwhereby moving the stamps over the feed roll and pulling of the stamps from the roll is accomplished without causing the stamps to tear.

l0. A stamp dispensing apparatus comprising a supporting structure, means on the structure tfor rotatably mounting a roll of stamps, a mechanically operated velocity control mechanism having input and output means,

each operating at diierent velocities at times, a lfeed mechanism connected to the output means of said velocity control mechanism lfor drawing stamps from the roll and including a sta-mp feed roll journalled on .the structure adjacent the roll of stamps `for engaging the stamps as they move thereacross, guide means holding the stamps in moving relation with the feed roll, driving means connected to the input means of said velocity control mechanism for rotating the same, and means for selectively operating said driving means in accordance with the number of stamps to be removed whereby moving lthe stamps over the feed roll and pulling of the stamps from the roll is accomplished without causing the stamps to tear.

11. A stamp dispensing apparatus comprising a supporting structure, means on Ithe structure for rotatably mounting la roll of stamps, a velocity control mechanism for controlling the initial velocity at which the stamps Will be removed from the roll, a Ifeed mechanism connected to the velocity control mechanism for drawing stamps om the roll and including a stamp feed roll journailed on the structure adjacent the roll of stamps for engaging the stamps las they move thereacross, guide means guiding the stamps in moving relation with the feed roll, driving means connected to the velocity control mechanism for rotating the same, and means for starting and stopping said driving means whereby moving the stamps over the feed roll and pulling of the stamps from the yroll is accomplished without causing the stamps to tear.

Steen et al Oct. 14, 1941 Singer June 17, 1952 

